Introduction

Order of Operations

Types of Numbers

Whole numbers are 1, 2, 3, ...

Natural numbers are 0, 1, 2, 3, ...

Out[ ]=

Integers are 0, ±1, ±2, ±3, ...

Rational numbers are numbers that can be expressed as the ratio of two integers

Decimal numbers e.g. 2.13, 5.169, 0.0132

Order of operations

B Brackets ( ) First priority

O Orders (i.e. powers or roots) 43 , 25 Second priority

Out[ ]=
D Division ÷ Joint third priority

M Multiplication × Joint third priority

A Addition + Joint fourth priority

S Subtraction - Joint fourth priority

Example 1
Add brackets as appropriate to make these equalities true 5⨯4 - 3 + 2 = ?

1. 5⨯4 - 3 + 2 = 19

Tick to show solution

Out[ ]=

No brackets needed: 5 ⨯ 4 - 3 + 2 =19

2. 5⨯4 - 3 + 2 = 7

Tick to show solution

Out[ ]=

5⨯(4 - 3) + 2 = 7
2 Algebra refresher1.nb

3. 5⨯4 - 3 + 2 = 15

Tick to show solution

Out[ ]=

5 ⨯ (4 - 3 + 2) = 15
or 5 ⨯ 4 - (3 + 2) = 15

4. 5⨯4 - 3 + 2 = -5

Tick to show solution

Out[ ]=

5 ⨯(4 - (3 + 2 )) = - 5

N-th power and n-th root

Exponentiation is a mathematical operation, written as an , involving two numbers, the base a and
the exponent (or power or indices) n. The exponent is usually shown as a superscript to the right
of the base.

 Note: When n is a positive integer, exponentiation corresponds to repeated multiplication

a⨯a⨯a⨯ ....⨯a⨯a = an e.g. 4⨯4⨯4⨯4⨯4 = 45
n times 5 times

Suppose now that a and b are positive real numbers and that m and n are arbitrary real numbers.
Then the following rules are the basic Laws of Indices:
 Algebra refresher1.nb 3

Law Example

a m+ n = a m a n 2 4+6 = 2 4 2 6
(a n ) m = a n ⨯ m 3.5 3  4 = 3.5 12

(a b)m = a m b m 7 x) 3 = 7 3 x 3
1 1
a-n = 2- 1 = 2
an
1 1
3-3 = ((1/3)/3)/3 = =
33 27
an 54
a n- m = 56
= 5 4-6 = 5-2
Out[ ]=
am
3m
a 0= 1 1= = 3 m- m = 3 0
3m
1
101/3 = 10
3
an =
n
a
m 5
an = am 255/2 = 255 =  25  = 55
n

82/3 = 81/3 2 = 22 = 4
or = 82 1/3 = 64 = 4
3

1
8-2/3 = 81/3 -2 = 2-2 =
4

1
We interpret a n to mean a number which gives the value a when it is raised to the power n.
It is called an “n-th root of a” (or a “radical a ”or a “surd”). Sometimes there is more than one
n

+7
value, e.g. 49 = ±7 = 
-7

 Note: a bc c c
= a(b ) ≠ ab  = a b c
4 Algebra refresher1.nb

m≥0 2

n≥0 5

1
laws, assuming a, b > 0: am an
am
(a m )n (a b )m
a m
  a0 a-1 a-m am
an b

Simplify

1 2
(a 2 )2 = a 2 = a1 = a.

Take the square root of both sides to get

1
a2 = a.

Exercises
1. Add brackets as appropriate to make the equality true 5× 7 - 3 = 20

Tick to show solution

Out[ ]=

5 ×(7 - 3) = 20

2. Add brackets as appropriate to make the equality true 5× 7 - 3 = 32

Tick to show solution

Out[ ]=

No brackets needed: 5 × 7 - 3 = 32

3. Add brackets as appropriate to make the equality true 36÷6 - 2 = 9

 Algebra refresher1.nb 5

Tick to show solution

Out[ ]=

36 ÷ (6 - 2) = 9

4. Add brackets as appropriate to make the equality true 36÷6 - 2 = 4

Tick to show solution

Out[ ]=

No brackets needed: 36÷6 - 2 = 4

5. Expand the expression 5 (x - 3) (y - 5)

Tick to show solution

Out[ ]=

5(x-3)(y-5) = 5 x y - 25 x - 15 y + 75

5 (u - 3) (v - 5)
6. Evaluate these expressions if u = 3.1, v = 5.9
5u-3v-5

Tick to show solution

Out[ ]=
5(u - 3)(v - 5) = 0.45
5u - 3v - 5 = - 7.2

7. Evaluate the expression 5 u2 + 4 (v - 5) - 4 (3 u - 2) if u = 3. and v = 2.

Tick to show solution

Out[ ]=

5u 2 + 4(v - 5) - 4(3u - 2) = 5

Factorise the following expressions:

8. x v - 5 x z
6 Algebra refresher1.nb

Tick to show solution

Out[ ]=

x v - 5 x z = x (v - 5 z)

9. 2 (y - 1) z + 4 (y - 1) x

Tick to show solution

Out[ ]=

x2 z2
10. 34 -17
y-3 y-3

Tick to show solution

Out[ ]=
17 2 x- z  2 x+ z
x2 z2 34 x2 - 17z2 17 2 x2 -z2 
34 - 17 = = =
y-3 y-3 y- 3 y-3
y-3

11. What is 5 -3/2  ?

-4

Tick to show solution

Out[ ]=

(5 -3/2 ) -4 = 15 625

1 -3/2 -2
12. What is ?
2

Tick to show solution

Out[ ]=

1 -3/2 -2
1
= 8
2

4 x
13. Simplify ⨯
x-2 2x - 4
 Algebra refresher1.nb 7

Tick to show solution

Out[ ]=

4
⨯ x
x-2 2 x - 4
= 2x
(x-2)2

4 x
14. Simplify ÷
x-2 2x - 4

Tick to show solution

Out[ ]=

4 x 8
x-2
÷ 2x-4
= x

x4 y8 x y
15. Simplify
z3 x7

Tick to show solution

x 4 y8 x y x 4 y8 xy y9
Out[ ]=
= ⨯ = x2 z3
z3 x7 z3 x4 x x2
Cancel common factors

x4 y8 x y y9
or = x 4 y 8 z -3 x y x -7 =
z3 x7 x2 z3

x 3 y4 xy
16. Simplify ÷
z2 z3

Tick to show solution

x 3 y4 x y x 3 y4 z3 x 2 x y3 y z2 z
÷ = ⨯ = ⨯ = x2 y3 z
z2 z3 z2 xy z2 xy
Out[ ]=
Invert the fraction Cancel common factors
Change ÷ to ×

x 3 y4 xy x 3 y4 z3
or ÷ = ⨯ = x 3 y 4 z -2 z 3 x -1 y -1 = x 2 y 3 z
z2 z3 z2 xy
Invert the fraction
Change ÷ to ×

x-2 y5 x-1 y2
17. Simplify ÷
x7 z 3 z-3
8 Algebra refresher1.nb

Tick to show solution

x-2 y5 x-1 y2 x-2 y5 z-3 x-1 x -1 y3 y2 z-3 y3

÷ = ⨯ = ⨯ = x8z6
x7 z 3 z-3 x7 z 3 x-1 y2 x7 z 3 x-1 y2
Out[ ]= Invert the fraction Cancel common factors
Change ÷ to ×

x-2 y5 x-1 y2 x-2 y5 z-3 y3

or ÷ = ⨯ = x -2y 5x -7z -3z -3x y -2 = x8z6
x7 z 3 z-3 x7 z 3 x-1 y2
Invert the fraction
Change ÷ to ×

3
x
18. Rationalise the surd form
3
y

Tick to show solution

Out[ ]=
3 3 3
x x1/3 y2/3 x1/3 y2/3 x y2
= = =
3
y y1/3 y2/3 y y

x3 y4 x7 t5
19. Simplify ÷
w4 y 8 z -3 w 7

Tick to show solution

8 -3 7
x3 y4 x3 y4 y z w
x7 t5 w 3 y 12
= x 3y 4w -4y 8z -3w 7x -7t -5 =
Out[ ]=
÷ = ⨯ t5 x4 z3
w4 8 -3
y z w 7
w 4
x 7 t5
Invert the fraction
Change ÷ to ×

3
x 2 y5 x2 z
20. Simplify 2
÷ 1
z5 y3

Tick to show solution

3 1
Out[ ]= x 2 y5 x2 z 3
y3 3 2 1

2
÷ 1
= x 2 y5
2 ⨯ = x 2 y 5 z- 5 y 3 x-2 z-1 = y 16/3
z 5 y 3
z5 x2 z x z7/5
Invert the fraction
Change ÷ to ×
 Algebra refresher1.nb 9

6
a d b5 c-3 a
21. Simplify ÷ 1
3
b c d2 b3

Tick to show solution

1
6 6
a d b5 c-3 a a d b5 c-3 b3
÷ 1
= ⨯ = a 1/6 d 1/6 b 5 c -3 b -1/3 c -1 d -2 b 1/6 a -1/2 =
3 3 a
Out[ ]= b c d2 b3 b c d2
Invert the fraction
Change ÷ to ×

b29/6
a c4 d 11/6
3

3
22. Express a5 b4 in exponential form.

Tick to show solution

Out[ ]=

3
a 5 b 4 = a 5/3 b 4/3

23. Change the subject of the formula x = y + k z to z.

Tick to show solution

Out[ ]=

x-y
z= k

1 1 1
24. The resistance R of an electrical circuit can be found from the formula = + . Solve the
R R1 R2
formula for R1 in terms of the remaining variables.

Tick to show solution

Out[ ]=

R R2
R1 = - R-R
2

f1 + f2
25. The power P of a particular lens combination can be found from the formula P = . Solve
f1 f2
the formula for f2 in terms of the remaining variables.
10 Algebra refresher1.nb

Tick to show solution

Out[ ]=

f1
f2 = f1 P-1

26. Change the subject of the formula x = 25 (a + y2 ) to y.

Tick to show solution

Out[ ]=
y1 = - 1 x - 25 a
5
1
y2 = x - 25 a
5